Assembly for weightlifting racks

Abstract

A bracket assembly includes a back plate with outer and inner sides and a pin opening extending therethrough. A clasp member has an extending portion and an encasing portion extending from the extending portion. The extending and encasing portions and the inner side of the body define a channel configured to receive a rack beam. A pin seated in the pin opening has a shank, and a head at the outer side of the back plate. The shank extends through the opening into the channel. The shank is configured to engage the rack beam within the channel. The head is welded to the outer side of the back plate. An extension member defines a support surface and includes pair of substantially J-shaped plates and a cover nested with the plates such that it forms the entire support surface and is substantially flush with sides of the substantially J-shaped plates.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A bracket assembly for use in association with a rack, the bracket assembly comprising:
 a back plate with an outer side and an inner side opposite the outer side, the back plate including a pin opening extending through the back plate from the outer side to the inner side; 
 a clasp member extending from the back plate and having an extending portion extending rearwardly from the back plate and an encasing portion extending laterally from the extending portion, wherein the extending portion and the encasing portion of the clasp member and the inner side of the back plate define a channel configured to receive a beam of the rack; 
 a pin seated in the pin opening, the pin having a shank and a head that is enlarged with respect to the shank, the head of the pin being positioned at the outer side of the back plate and the shank extending from the head through the pin opening and into the channel, such that the shank of the pin is configured to engage the beam of the rack within the channel, the head being welded to the outer side of the back plate; and 
 an extension member comprising an outward leg extending outwardly away from a lower edge of the back plate and an outer lip extending upwardly from a distal end of the outward leg, such that the back plate, the outward leg, and the outer lip collectively define a horizontal channel configured to receive an object, and the extension member defines a support surface within the channel configured to support the object. 
 
     
     
       2. The bracket assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the pin opening includes a cylindrical portion extending inward from the inner side of the back plate and receiving the shank therethrough, and a countersink on the outer side of the back plate, and wherein the countersink receives the head of the pin. 
     
     
       3. The bracket assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the countersink has a chamfered configuration. 
     
     
       4. The bracket assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the pin includes a chamfered portion and a shank, and wherein the chamfered portion abuts the countersink when the shank extends through the pin opening. 
     
     
       5. The bracket assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the extension member is integrally formed with the back plate. 
     
     
       6. The bracket assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the outward leg and the back plate define an acute angle therebetween. 
     
     
       7. The bracket assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the outward leg and the back plate define an angle of 80° to 100° therebetween. 
     
     
       8. The bracket assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the outer lip and the outward leg define an obtuse angle therebetween. 
     
     
       9. The bracket assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the outward leg and the back plate define an angle of 125° to 145° therebetween. 
     
     
       10. The bracket assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a first protective panel connected to the outer side of the back plate and a second protective panel connected to an upper surface of the extension member. 
     
     
       11. The bracket assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the first protective panel covers the head of the pin. 
     
     
       12. The bracket assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the first protective panel has a surface abutting the outer side of the back plate and a recess formed in the surface, wherein the head of the pin is received in the recess. 
     
     
       13. The bracket assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a first protective panel connected to the outer side of the back plate, wherein the first protective panel covers the head of the pin. 
     
     
       14. A bracket assembly for use in association with a rack, the bracket assembly comprising:
 a back plate with an outer side and an inner side opposite the outer side, the back plate including a pin opening extending through the back plate from the outer side to the inner side, wherein the pin opening includes a cylindrical portion extending inward from the inner side of the back plate and a countersink on the outer side of the back plate, the countersink having a chamfered configuration; 
 a clasp member extending from the back plate and having an extending portion extending rearwardly from the back plate and an encasing portion extending laterally from the extending portion, wherein the extending portion and the encasing portion of the clasp member and the inner side of the back plate define a channel configured to receive a beam of the rack; 
 a pin having a shank and a head that is enlarged with respect to the shank, wherein the pin is seated in the pin opening such that the cylindrical portion receives the shank of the pin therethrough the countersink receives the head of the pin, the head of the pin being positioned at the outer side of the back plate and the shank extending from the head through the pin opening and into the channel, such that the shank of the pin is configured to engage the beam of the rack within the channel, the head being welded to the outer side of the back plate, wherein the pin includes a chamfered portion and a shank, and wherein the chamfered portion abuts the countersink of the pin opening when the shank extends through the pin opening, and the chamfered portion and the countersink have matching chamfer angles; and 
 an extension member integrally formed with the back plate and comprising an outward leg extending outwardly away from a lower edge of the back plate and an outer lip extending upwardly from a distal end of the outward leg, such that the back plate, the outward leg, and the outer lip collectively define a horizontal channel configured to receive an object, and the extension member defines a support surface within the channel configured to support the object. 
 
     
     
       15. The bracket assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the outward leg and the back plate define an acute angle therebetween. 
     
     
       16. The bracket assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the outer lip and the outward leg define an obtuse angle therebetween. 
     
     
       17. A bracket assembly for use in association with a rack, the bracket assembly comprising:
 a back plate with an outer side and an inner side opposite the outer side, the back plate including a pin opening extending through the back plate from the outer side to the inner side; 
 a clasp member extending from the back plate and having an extending portion extending rearwardly from the back plate and an encasing portion extending laterally from the extending portion, wherein the extending portion and the encasing portion of the clasp member and the inner side of the back plate define a channel configured to receive a beam of the rack; 
 a pin seated in the pin opening, the pin having a shank and a head that is enlarged with respect to the shank, the head of the pin being positioned at the outer side of the back plate and the shank extending from the head through the pin opening and into the channel, such that the shank of the pin is configured to engage the beam of the rack within the channel, the head being welded to the outer side of the back plate; 
 an extension member integrally formed with the back plate and comprising an outward leg extending outwardly away from a lower edge of the back plate and an outer lip extending upwardly from a distal end of the outward leg, such that the back plate, the outward leg, and the outer lip collectively define a horizontal channel configured to receive an object, and the extension member defines a support surface within the channel configured to support the object; 
 a first protective panel connected to the outer side of the back plate, wherein the first protective panel covers the head of the pin, and wherein the first protective panel has a surface abutting the outer side of the back plate and a recess formed in the surface, wherein the head of the pin is received in the recess; and 
 a second protective panel connected to an upper surface of the extension member. 
 
     
     
       18. The bracket assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the outward leg and the back plate define an acute angle therebetween. 
     
     
       19. The bracket assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the outer lip and the outward leg define an obtuse angle therebetween.